OUTGOING GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES MORE DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS

September 22, 2007

17 September 2007 – As the United Nations General Assembly wrapped up its sixty-first session today, the outgoing president, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain, urged greater focus in the years ahead on dialogue among civilizations before passing the gavel to her successor, Srgjan Kerim of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Sweeping moves to bring nations together were spearheaded by Shaikha Haya in her year as president of the UN’s 61st General Assembly.

In her farewell address, she outlined the UN’s achievements in making the world a safer place, campaigning against war, injustice, poverty and disease.
She was only the third woman to occupy the post since 1945 following Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India, who presided over the eighth session in 1953, and Angie Elisabeth Brooks, of Liberia, who presided over the 24th session in 1969